By: Mark Parton
The Canberra Liberals acknowledge the additional health funding identified for the ACT in today’s National Cabinet announcement, but Canberrans deserve to see the fine print before celebrating.
While ACT Labor will rush to declare a win, the reality is that the reported $557 million over five years equates to around $111 million per year, barely a drop in the bucket when the Territory lost more than half a billion dollars last year to interest expenses alone.
Canberrans need transparency on the year-by-year funding schedule, and proof this agreement will actually strengthen frontline health services, rather than continuing the long-running cost-shifting blame game between governments.
There are serious concerns that by the third year of this deal, the additional funding may not even cover public service wage increases under the next enterprise agreement, leaving ACT Health no better off, and patients no better served.
“The ACT Health Minister must explain how this funding will genuinely improve emergency wait times, surgery backlogs, and workforce pressures, not just prop up a struggling budget,” Canberra Liberals Leader and Shadow Health Minister, Mark Parton said.
“The Minister has already admitted Tuesday this week on local radio she only re-engaged in negotiations after returning from leave, saying:
‘I’ve been involved in discussions. Just yesterday, when I got back, I think things are now moving quite quickly.’
“Canberrans expect their Health Minister to be fighting every day for a better deal, not turning up late once decisions are already being locked in.”
After years of Labor control, ACT Health remains under pressure not just from funding shortfalls, but from deep inefficiencies, rising costs, and poor financial management, leaving patients facing longer waits, staff shortages, and growing uncertainty about the system’s future.
“It’s now the responsibility on the ACT Government to now find efficiency in health delivery. Simply spending more money won’t address the underlying cost pressures that are ravaging the ACT budget,” Mr Parton said.
The Canberra Liberals will hold ACT Labor accountable to ensure this deal delivers real improvements, not more spin, more debt, and more excuses.